merlin sidecar owners

we have moved

2008-12-28T14:19:00.000-08:00

for the time being you will find information on the Merlin Sidecar Club on the Merlin Sidecars website here http://www.merlinsidecars.co.uk/club_index.htm

Beezumph 007

2007-11-18T14:31:00.000-08:00

Another photo from the Beezumph in August.
Mike Hardy - Triumph Trophy.
To see more photos visit http://www.tr3oc.co.uk/bz16_gall6.html

Sidecars at the Beezumph

2007-11-10T02:47:00.001-08:00

Back in September 3 Merliners took part in the Beezumph track sessions at Cadwell Park. Here you see the outfits of John Dean, Mike Hardy, Bob Holmes, and Adrian Dawson. I think the lads all look a bit tired don't they? Overdoing it on the track no doubt!

Pete Wheeler's outfit

2007-10-16T11:01:00.000-07:00

Pete Wheeler is now the proud owner of the stunning orange Yamaha Thunderace / Merlin outfit. The outfit has featured in several magzines in the past and now seems to have found a good home.

Here we see Pete sitting in outside the pub at Tan Hill, the highest pub in England.

By all accounts the outfit is going well.

Pete says

"I've been away on it every weekend since getting her, including trips up to Tan Hill, Cadwell Park and a few runs to the coast with mates on their R1s , who are gutted because they can't leave us for very long before they have the big orange outfit filling their mirrors again."

An elite outfit!

Festival of 1000 bikes July 14th 2007

2007-10-02T14:25:00.000-07:00

Several modern outfits mixed it with old ones at Mallory Park during the Festival of 1000 bikes.

See more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/merlinowners

Banbury Run 17th June 2007

2007-10-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

Merlin owner Mike Hardy entered the Banbury Run riding Alan Yeoman's BSA Sloper. His passenger was David Pope - brought up riding in sidecars and specially a Merlin. They earned a silver award.

New Merlin outfit

2007-05-09T11:28:00.000-07:00

The latest outfit to emerge from the Merlin Coachworks at Pity Me is this Suzuki 1400 / F2 .

A run out in Norfolk

2007-05-09T11:23:00.000-07:00

One lone Merlin outfit created a splash of style at the Whitwell bike camping event over the early May bank holiday weekend. The run out included a photo opportunity at Blickling Hall, and an interesting visit to North Walsham bike museum.

more about the Dragon Rally 2007

2007-02-20T10:16:00.000-08:00

Here's another pic - it shows Mike Spiers' Merlin outfit at the Dragon Rally. The field got much muddier the next morning.

Dragon Rally 2007

2007-02-12T01:57:00.000-08:00

Saturday 10 February saw five intrepid Merlin owners making their way through rain, fog, snow, sunshine and mud to the Isle of Anglesey for the 2007 Dragon Rally.

This event followed the usual format of cold weather, plenty of mud and an odd drink or two. After rain in the night, the mud developed nicely in the morning. But Sunday was a sunny day and we very much enjoyed our ride home through Wales.

There are more photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/merlinowners .

New Year - new plans

2007-01-16T10:34:00.000-08:00

We've a few outings firmly inked in on the calendar for 2007.

Dragon Rally
Four outfits and about 7 of us will be shivering or sploshing about at the Dragon Rally in Wales in February. Visit here sometime after 11 Feb to see some no doubt dodgy pics of cold muddy people. We must be mad - especially those who have been before.

TT races
Several Merlin folk will be at the centenary TT races in the Isle of Man, and some will actually be taking part. Work will keep some of us away, which is disappointing.

Banbury Run
On 17 June one Merlin-riding hero is to swap his modern outfit for a 1930 BSA and attempt the Banbury Run in Oxfordshire, complete with passenger. Get to Sunrising Hill for lunchtime and prepare for a laugh as David and Mike attempt the ascent with just 5 hp. Special thanks to Alan Yeomans for the loan of the outfit.

Festival of 1000 Bikes
In July several of us will be at the VMCC's Festival of 1000 bikes at Mallory Pary. The track sessions for sidecars will probably be on Saturday 14 July, and the best display of old bikes the following day, if it follows the pattern that last year's event did.

Beezumph
If all goes according to plan some who have qualifying outfits hope to put them through their paces again at this event which takes place at Cadwell Park in the autumn.

Other stuff
No doubt there will be more stuff to add here, when we've decided where we're going. If you're a Merlin-owner and have something for me to add, just send me an email.

Sherburn in Elmet

2006-11-19T14:26:00.000-08:00

We gathered in Yorkshire to admire and try out the latest outfit, built with a Kawasaki ZRX1200 - we all thought it was pretty cool.

For more pictures visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/merlinowners

To contact the club either

ring Mike Hardy on 01733 705382 or
email jonathanpope@yahoo.co.uk

Isle of Man

2006-11-19T14:22:00.000-08:00

Mike Minns racing in the Manx Grand prix

Suzukis - TL 1000 and Hayabusa

Other events

2006-11-19T14:14:00.000-08:00

The Sheringham Easter Egg run

Thundersprint - Northwich

Spalding Bike show

Camping weekend at Pocklington

Usual suspects on the run out from Pocklington

BMF shows

2006-11-19T14:08:00.000-08:00

For several years we have had a stand and the BMF show at Peterborough each May.

Bellingham

2006-11-19T13:57:00.000-08:00

In the past we held camping weekends at Bellingham near Kielder.
This was taken on a run out - we made a pretty cool convoy and had a near expensive moment when we all narrowly avoided whizzing past a traffic policecar

Merlin Sidecar Owners Club

2006-11-15T13:41:00.000-08:00

Welcome to the Merlin Sidecar Owners' blog.

Merlin sidcars are hand made at Durham in the United Kingdom. Our group is a loose association of folk who own or have owned such machines. Some of us meet from time to time at various bike events, at home and abroad, to share a bacon sandwich and a bit of a natter. We have attended some sidecar events, track days, and held our own camping weekends a couple of times.

This site will provide a home for some of our photos, and tales of our trips.

To see some recent photos visit http://www.flickr.com/photos/merlinowners

To contact the club either

ring Mike Hardy on 01733 705382 or
email jonathanpope@yahoo.co.uk

Add this site to your favourites and visit again, because there should be more photos and news in due course. In the meantime, ride safely.

Best wishes - the Merlin Owners.